Walter Payton--human Being

January 08, 1986|By Craig M. Brown.

ROSWELL, GA. — On Tuesday, Dec. 17, Walter Payton and a number of his Chicago Bears teammates were visiting Children`s Memorial Hospital signing autographs and in general doing what they could do to bring some cheer to the children there. As they were preparing to leave, my nephew, Bobby Weber, accompanied by my sister, approached Walter Payton, asking quietly, ``Mr. Payton, would you come see my baby brother?`` Without a word, Payton excused himself and followed Bobby and his mother to the room where Chris Weber lay.

Chris was 15 months old. He had been hurt in a bizarre household accident involving a shelf inside a microwave cart. He was found by his brothers, his head lodged inside the cabinet door. Now he lay in intensive care, kept clinging to life by intravenous tubes and a respirator.

For a long moment, Walter Payton stood, looking down at the still form on the bed. The look in his eyes was one that will never be seen by a linebacker. The compassion there is reserved for a different, very private Walter Payton. Then he reached down and with those hands that are powerful enough to stop a tackler in his tracks, he gently stroked Chris` head and then his hands. For a few moments, Payton spoke softly with Bobby and my sister. He knew all too well about how it feels to lose someone close. Then he shook Bobby`s hand, gave my sister a hug, and he was gone.

At 2 o`clock on Christmas morning, Christian Weber died. Perhaps the saddest thing about this is that Chris will never grow up to be told that he had been touched and prayed for by a very special person. I hope Walter Payton breaks every rushing and scoring record that ever has been or ever will be. But if he doesn`t, it won`t matter. When the time comes that his number is retired, there are those of us who will remember him in just one way: Walter Payton--No. 34--human being.